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Undergrad Medical internship in Peru

Transform your pre-med journey and ignite your passion for medicine

Destination

Peru

Age

18+ y/o

Minimum Stay

2 weeks

Start Date

January, May, June, and July

Accommodation

Homestay

Service Hours

Shadowing Hours

What’s included

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Meals

All breakfast, lunch, and dinners, and always fresh drinking water.

Pre-departure Support

Everything you need to prepare for your trip, including visa advice, cultural awareness training, access to your dedicated pre-departure portal, and more.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

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Starting at €3,095 for 15 Days

Flexible 0% Interest payments
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Trip Overview

Gain hospital experience

Shadow doctors in a busy hospital in Cusco. Complete 40 hours of direct observation and 16 hours of community outreach.

Improve clinical skills

Observe diagnoses, treatments, and patient care firsthand as you rotate through departments.

Attend medical workshops

Explore traditional Andean medicine and global health issues. Plus, learn essential first aid techniques.

Learn Spanish through immersion

Improve your Spanish skills, including medical vocabulary, through lessons and daily interactions.

Explore Cusco and surrounds

Discover the historic city and its Incan heritage in your free time — a visit to Machu Picchu is included in the cost of your trip.

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What you need to know

Overview

Are you craving meaningful clinical exposure to elevate your medical school application? Then this immersive Undergrad Medical Programme in Peru is your gateway to standing out from the crowd.

You’ll get structured clinical shadowing and community service hours, tailored to your ambitions.

You’ll partner with highly qualified medical professionals, explore diverse patient populations, and hone your Spanish – all valuable skills that will set you apart.

You’ll follow a carefully curated itinerary with a group of like-minded students from around the world. It offers a perfect balance of clinical exposure and leisure time, so you can see the world and stay focused on your medical career at the same time.

Although not compulsory, intermediate Spanish skills will help you communicate with local staff and patients.

Aims & Impact

The aims of this programme for undergrad medical students are to:

Facilitate first-class medical exposure, broadening your knowledge
Provide extra-curricular, structured service hours
Build key competencies, including cultural awareness, communication, and compassion
Ensure you stand out from other medical school applicants

At the same time, you’ll visit Peru to leave a positive impact by treating disadvantaged community members.

The health concerns facing Peru include:

- Infectious diseases, like dengue and Zika.
- Respiratory diseases are the leading cause of death in Peru.
- Non-communicable diseases like diabetes are prevalent in poorer regions.
- Malnutrition continues to seriously affect children and babies.
- Underfunded and low-quality healthcare, which many rural residents cannot access.
- A lack of education surrounding health and hygiene.

Your presence in Peru will be part of our long-term efforts to improve global health outcomes.

Activities

This Undergrad Medical Internship provides unmatched opportunities to take your medical knowledge to the next level.

Here’s what to expect:

Dive deep into Peruvian healthcare: Immerse yourself in a real-world hospital setting and see how doctors handle challenges in a different country.
Learn from the best: Shadow experienced doctors, observe their patient interactions, and witness medicine in action.
Develop your bedside manner: Hone your communication skills by talking with patients and participating in community outreach programmes.
Unlock hidden knowledge: Attend workshops and lectures on Peruvian healthcare issues, gaining insights beyond your textbooks.
Build your medical arsenal: Explore diverse healthcare practices and build a strong foundation for your future medical career.

But wait, there’s more! This internship isn’t just about medicine. Live with a host family, visit Machu Picchu (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), see the Sacred Valley, and immerse yourself in a vibrant new culture.

Map & Location

Step into the home of the Inca Empire, where the Andes Mountains meet the Amazon Rainforest. Peru is the third-largest South American nation and about 60% of it is covered by rainforest. It’s also the origin of the mighty Amazon River.

Peru is a popular tourist destination for its rich history and culture, incredible biodiversity, and, of course, Machu Picchu. If you aren’t persuaded yet, this ought to do the trick: it’s home to about three-quarters of the global alpaca population!

Cusco

Cusco, nestled in the Andes in southeast Peru, was the capital of the mighty Inca Empire. Now home to half a million people, the stunning city welcomes over two million tourists a year, many of which hike the nearby Inca Trail to find the famous Machu Picchu.

Thanks to a high elevation and subtropical climate, Cusco benefits from comfortable temperatures year round. You’ll also find a lively city centre with busy social spots, a fascinating mix of architecture, and easy transport access.

Food & Accommodation

We’ll take care of all the essentials during your time in Peru. You’ll have a comfortable living space with a carefully selected host family, three nutritious meals a day, and access to safe drinking water. We’ll also organise all your travel to and from your placement.

Your host family’s home will be clean, safe, and secure, and you’ll be welcomed as a local from the moment you arrive. Share your stories and culture with your host family and other Projects Abroad participants over incredible home-cooked meals and experience Peruvian culture and hospitality every day.

We will try to match you with another person of the same gender and similar age so you can share your experience with a like-minded traveller. Who knows, you might just make a new friend (or a few) on your travels!

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Peru Arrival Procedures page.